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Language courses

The PIER Education Platform offers language training for early stage researchers in German and English. The courses are open to all doctoral and postdoctoral researchers with an affiliation to the PIER Helmholtz Graduate School, IMPRS-UFAST, HELIOS, DASHH, CUI/ AIM, or Quantum Universe. Researchers from other graduate programs on Campus Bahrenfeld may also participate upon request.

Note: Most of the language courses take place online. For details please contact the teachers and/or the PIER Office (graduateschool@pier-hamburg.de).

Queries and suggestions?
Portrait of Sinikka Seidl/ © DESY/Marta Mayer
Sinikka Seidl
PIER Education Platform

German courses

If you would like to enroll in one of our German courses, please register here.

Register for a German Course

If you are uncertain about your language level, our teachers may arrange a placement test for you. The test is designed to give students and teachers a quick way of assessing the approximate level of a student's knowledge of German grammar and usage. The test - if applicable - should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL): Our German courses follow the guideline established via the CEFRL, which is used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe. The six reference levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) are becoming widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency. Levels A1-A2 describes basic users, B1-B2 independent users, C1-C2 proficient users.

COURSES OFFERED BY PEP - PIER EDUCATION PLATFORM:

 

NEW!!! German A1.1 / 2 sessions per week (start date: Friday, 21 February 2025)
When: Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 p.m. + Fridays 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Where: on DESY Campus Bahrenfeld (building 47c, room L110)
Teacher: Cornelia Johannsen

 

German A1.1 / 2 sessions per week (fully booked)
When: Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 p.m. + Fridays 4:00-5:30 p.m. (start of Level A1.2 from April 2025)
Where: on DESY Campus Bahrenfeld (building 1b, room SR5)
Teacher: Gisa Günther

 

German A2.1 / 2 sessions per week (fully booked)
When: Mondays + Thursdays, 5:30 - 7:00 pm (start of Level A2.2 from July 2025)
Where: on DESY Campus Bahrenfeld (building 61, room 116)
Teacher: Gisa Günther

 

German A2.2 (few places available)
When: Wednesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 pm (start of Level B1.1 from July 2025)
Where: online
Teacher: Gisa Günther

 

German B1.1 (fully booked):
When: Wednesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (start of Level B1.2 from July 2025)
Where: online
Teacher: Cornelia Johannsen

 

German B1.1 / 2 sessions per week (fully booked)
When: Mondays + Thursdays, 5:30-7:00 p.m. (start of Level B1.2 from April 2025)
Where: on DESY Campus Bahrenfeld (building 47C, room L110)
Teacher: Cornelia Johannsen

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German courses

offered by other institutions:

 

DESY (login required, for doctoral researchers + employees of DESY)

University of Hamburg (for students and employees of UHH)

MINGZ (for doctoral researchers and employees of UHH)

Hamburger Volkshochschule (for everybody)

Image of Gisa Günther and Cornelia Johanssen © DESY/Marta Mayer
Our German teachers
Gisa Günther and Cornelia Johannsen hold teaching degrees in German as a foreign language and have many years of experience in teaching German to scientists at both Universität Hamburg and DESY.

English courses

The English courses are part of our language module "Negotiation and networking in English" that is designed for the needs of researchers in science. Our teachers are native speakers with many years of experience in teaching scientists and graduate students.

A SCRIPT TO BE LOADED ONCE 12 Mar 2025

Academic Writing for Doctoral Researchers - 8 Sessions

EVENT | 8 sessions from 12 March 2025 to 30 April 2025, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (Wednesdays) | Campus Bahrenfeld, Building 61 Room 116 (1st floor)

At a basic level, a PhD is about developing the skills of a professional academic researcher. However, without a set syllabus to follow, how do you develop those skills?


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Image of Louise Kennedy © DESY/Marta Mayer
Our English teacher
Louise Kennedy, Communications Skills Coach and Academic English Lecturer at Universität Hamburg